Can-opener



(No Model.)

B. 0. MISENER.

GAN OPENER.

No. 323,193. Patented July. 28, 1885.

0. Mil 31962402:

UNITED STAT S PATENT @FFICE.

RICHARD OLIVER MISENER, OF \VAOO, TEXAS.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,193, dated July 28, 1885.

Application filed July l5, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, RICHARD OLIVER Misu- NER,1CitiZ6l1 of the United States, residing at \Vaco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gan-Openers, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to tools for opening metallic cans of the kind used for preserving fruit, fish, and a great variety of perishable substances; and it consists of a tool or device especially adapted for use upon either cylindrical or rectangular cans, the construction and operation of the same being hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a modified construction especially adapted for use upon square and cylindrical cans. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating my invention, a rotary cutter being substituted for the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing a modification of my invention. Fig. 5 isa detail perspective of one of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, my invention consists, essentially, of a straight metallic radius-bar, A, having a handle, B, at one end, and provided at or near the opposite extremity with a removable fulcrum point or pivot, C, arranged at a right angle, or substantially so, to the axis of the bar. Upon the latter is mounted a longitudinally-adjustable sleeve, D, carrying two prongs, one of which acts as a gage orguide and the other as a cutter. The prongs may be arranged at any desired distance apart, and the inner, d, or that nearest the pivot O, is provided with a sharp cutting-edge, which may be slightly inclined or curved. The outer prong, (1, may also be made in the same form and used both as a gage and as a cutter alternately. \Vhen employed in the former capacity, its side orflat face rests against the cylindrical edge of the can and aids in guiding the cutting-prong d. As thelatter becomes dulled or in any way injured by long use, the pivot 0 may be removed, the sleeve D slipped off the barA and placed with the prongs in a reversed position, bringing the prong d into use 'tached view.

as the cutter, and the prong d into position-to act as the gage. This reversal is an advantage in use, as in the event of one cutter becoming broken, dull, or nicked, the other may be instantly brought into use and the tool made perfectly serviceable. Moreover, the form of the cutters and the reniovability of the sleeve D renders it not only a simple matter to sharpen either, but from their relative positions both may be sharpened with but little more labor thanis required to sharpen either one.

A set-screw, E, tapped through the sleeve D and bearing upon the bar, serves to hold the cutters at any point to which they may be adjusted.

Instead of the straightedge cutters shown in Fig. 1, I may employ a rotary cutter, F, as shown in Fig. 3, mounted upon a cylindrical bar, provided with a fulcrum or pivot, O, as already described. The rotary cutter illustrated in this figure is shown in detail in a de- It consists of two disks,fandf, each having a cutting-edge and connected by a central sleeve orbush, f through which the bar A passes. In use this cutter is operated very much like that shown in Fig. 1, the outer disk acting as a guide and the inner as a cutter.

If desired. a spring, G, may be coiled upon the bar to hold the cutter to its place; but this is not essential, as the tool may be used with or without it. It is obvious that the rotary cutter may be removed and reversed in the same manner as the straight-edge cutter shown in Fig. 1.

I have shown in Fig. 2 a substantial duplication of this device, which is adapted for use upon either cylindrical or square cans. In this form the bar Ais prolonged and a handle, B, is applied to each end. The pivot or fulcrum O is inserted at the central point between the handles, and the cutters are placed upon each side of it, being rendered adjustable toward and from the pivot in the same manner as in Fig. 1. By inserting the pivot-point O in the can and adjusting the cutters to the proper point, the tool may be operated with both hands and a cylindrical opening out of any size. On the other hand, by removing the pivot the device may be used for cutting rectangular openings, the Inanner of using it for .to shear out cylindrical this purpose being too obvious to require explanation.

Rotary cutters similar to those shown in Fig. 3 may be used upon the double cutter last described, and by rendering one of the handles removable the cutters may be slipped off and reversed in the manner already set forth.

It should be noted that, although I have shown set-screws for fastening the cuttingtools at any point upon the bar, their use ina can-opening device is not necessary, as the tool is operative without such an element. By applying them, however, the cutters may be used pieces of tin or other material.

I may mount upon the shank or bar A a loose frame, I, having a cutter-bar, I, which works inside ofthe can,using the same cuttingwheel heretofore described, such a wheel being shown at F, Fig. 4.. It should be understood, however, that this modified form of tool may be used with or without the cutter-bar I, as is obvious from the representation in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a can-opener, the combination, with a radius-bar having a handle at one end and a vertical fulcrum or pivot-pin, of an adjustable sleeve mounted on the bar and carrying two cutters, one being adapted to act as a guide and the other as a cutter, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the bar A, of a frame loosely mounted thereon and having a cutting-bar integral therewith, and a doubleedged cutter mounted upon the bar within said frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 0 witnesses.

RICHARD OLIVER MISENER.

\Vitnesses:

F. H. WHEELER, A. E. OSBORN. 

